Promoting Journalism
The media sector plays an important role in any democratic set-up. In Nepal
also, journalists have contributed significantly, first in the struggle for democracy and
later also in the consolidation process of the same. it is encouraging that after the
re-ushering in of democracy, Nepalese journalism has seen rapid growth. However, there are
still many problems faced by the country's Fourth Estate, which are hindering its proper
growth. Representatives of the Nepalese journalists had time and again informed the
government about the problems faced by the sector and the present government had promptly
formed a Journalism Sector Study and Recommendation Task Force to look into the grievances
of the journalists. The Task Force handed over its report with different suggestions to
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communications Ram Chandra Poudel
the other day. it should be an encouraging piece of news for all the Nepalese journalists
that Deputy Prime Minister Poudel has said the present government is committed for the
promotion of the journalism sector.
One of the major problems of the Nepalese newspapers, is the unavailability
of advertisements. This has greatly affected their economic sustainability.
Therefore one of the biggest demands of the private sector media, has been that they too
should receive the public notices and welfare advertisements provided by the government
and its various departments. It is indeed pragmatic of the present Task Force to have
seriously studied this problem of the Nepalese journalism sector. It is stated that other
issues such as problems of working journalists and journalists outside Kathmandu Valley,
laws pertaining to right of information, constraints facing literary journalism and even
transport and health facilities for journalists have also been looked into. However, it
must be understood that it would not be possible to provide different facilities to all
the newspapers that have been registered. Only newspapers meeting the criteria of the
Audit Bureau of Circulation will be eligible to get government help. That the government
has taken the initiative to study the problems of the media sector and come up with
different recommendations, is a positive development for all the working journalists. With
proper implementation, it can be hoped the suggestions provided by the Task Force will
significantly help in promoting the cause of Nepalese journalism.
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